Complexation of 2,6-helic[6]arene and its derivatives with 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium salts and protonated 4,4'-bipyridinium salts: an acid–base controllable complexation

• Jing Li,
• Qiang Shi,
• Ying Han and
• Chuan-Feng Chen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1795–1804, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.173

• 10.3762/bjoc.15.173 Abstract 2,6-Helic[6]arene and its derivatives were synthesized, and their complexation with 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium and protonated 4,4'-bipyridinium salts were investigated in detail. It was found that the helic[6]arene and its derivatives could all form 1:1 complexes with

• both 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium salts and protonated 4,4'-bipyridinium salts in solution and in the solid state. Especially, the helic[6]arene and its derivatives containing 2-hydroxyethoxy or 2-methoxyethoxy groups exhibited stronger complexation with the guests than the other helic[6]arene

• with larger counteranions of the guests and in less polar solvents. Furthermore, the switchable complexation between the helic[6]arene and protonated 4,4'-bipyridinium salt could be efficiently controlled by acids and bases. Keywords: 4,4'-bipyridinium salts; complexation; helic[6]arene; hydrogen bond